Amazing Facts on Snakes

A snake has always been one such animal (reptile, to be more accurate) which invokes fear and interest at the same time. There are more than 3000 species of snake known to man today. Snakes are found in different sizes and colors all over the world. They are broadly classified into venomous and non venomous ones. Snakes have a vertebra (Yes, snakes do have bones although it appears very slimy and can coil itself completely) and hence, they are classified as vertebrates. Let us now take a look at some amazing facts on snakes.

Interesting Facts About Snakes

• When talking about the largest snake in the world, note that the reticulated python (which can grow 28-30 feet long) is the world's largest, tallest or greatest snake. As it is a python, it is non venomous!
• The Brahminy Blind is the smallest snake found on the Earth. It is 2 ½ to 6 inches long and is non venomous.
• The King cobra (15-18 feet long) is the most venomous snake and also one of the largest snakes found on the Earth.
• Snakes belonging to the boa and python family (like boa constrictor, anaconda, green boa) are the longest and heaviest snakes on the Earth.
• The black mamba is the fastest moving snake in the world, with a speed of 7 miles per hour. It is also one of the deadliest snakes in the world.
• Snakes do not have eyelids, but a transparent film or scale over their eyes to protect them.
• Snakes cannot hear and lack vocal cords completely. They can feel their prey or an animal approaching due to the vibrations they feel in their jaw. A snake cannot make any sound, it can only hiss.
• The vibrations felt by the snake are so sharp that it can detect movement at a far distance even from minutest vibrations.
• Snakes can be terrestrial, arboreal, aquatic as well as burrowers.
• Some species of snakes are oviparous (lay eggs) while some are viviparous (give birth to young ones)
• The tendons found in the mouths of snakes makes it possible for them to consume a prey that it 2-3 times bigger than them. It is a known fact that pythons can consume an entire human being or deer at one go.
• Another amazing fact on snakes is that it can move in three different patterns: in a rectilinear motion, in a serpentine motion or even in the side winding motion. The rectilinear motion is usually adopted by big and heavy snakes.
• One of the widely known facts about snakes is that no snakes are found in New Zealand. The truth is that no 'land' snakes are found in this country; however, water snakes are commonly seen here.
• As mentioned above, snakes are found in different colors like black, gray, brown, green, red, yellow, orange, blue, etc. Take a look at pictures of a coral snake, banded krait or any sea snakes and you will be amazed by the color shades found on the bodies of these creatures.
• The king cobra and the Indian cobra can kill one elephant and 10-12 adults with their deadly venomous bites.
• However, the taipan is much more venomous and 50 times more toxic and deadly than the cobra.
• Along with the cobras and taipans; vipers, mambas, adders and rattlesnakes are some species of venomous snakes.
• Snakes attack human beings only when they feel threatened, hence will not go out of their way to launch an attack on any human being unless it is cornered with no way out or if it belongs to the python family and is in search of food.
• Anacondas, specially, are the most peace loving creatures found on the Earth. They spend a major part of their life in dark waters and are rarely found on land.

On reading these amazing facts on snakes, you must really be inspired to view them in real life (from a distance of course). One of the unfortunate facts is that snakes are hunted for their skins, and are also used as a delicacy in certain parts of the world. We should all strive to save snakes and prevent them from being endangered! Ciao!